Kerry's story

Kerry Harwood
Clinical nurse specialist in learning disabilities

“My job is to support people with learning disabilities to ensure they get the care they need, as inpatients or outpatients. In a pandemic, people are very busy and they tend to make blanket judgements. I tried to make sure the patients understood what was happening to them, were comforted and had consistency.

These patients don’t communicate like us. If someone with learning disabilities comes in to hospital with a stomach bug they may not be able to communicate what is wrong. They might pull pictures off the wall or shout and scream. I help the ward staff understand what it is they are trying to communicate.

Between March and July, 8 patients with learning disabilities with COVID-19 were admitted and 3 sadly died. These patients often need the reassurance of a familiar carer or family member, but guidance initially banned anyone from accompanying them. I tried to make sure staff presented a friendly face. That was difficult in full PPE. It was scary for patients and I urged the nurses to call out their name, show their badge and make a joke about their appearance.

One woman was admitted with COVID-19 and was on oxygen but she was very sick. She stopped eating and drinking and couldn’t hold the oxygen mask to her face. She didn’t get out of bed for 4 weeks.

The MDT contacted the home she came from and persuaded them to take her back. When she arrived, she walked through the front door, made herself tea and crumpets, grabbed the remote and sat down in front of the telly. Despite still experiencing COVID-19 symptoms her mood lifted greatly being back home. She was fine as I knew she would be.

Another man also made a remarkable recovery after being admitted with COVID-19. He was very unwell and we were warned he was not expected to survive more than 24 hours. I fully expected not to see him again but when I came in after the weekend he was better. He was discharged home on his birthday.

I work with the Community Learning Disability team which has 400 patients in their patch. We feared we might get a flood of patients with COVID-19 because a lot of people with learning disabilities have respiratory conditions that make them vulnerable. That didn’t happen. There was also a fall in attendances at A&E.  It’s worrying – we aren’t sure why.”